Restoration of Odessa's Cultural Heritage: New Grant from Italy
This was reported by Alena Shkrum, the First Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine.
She stated that the grant agreement with Italy for €27.5 million will be part of a larger aid package aimed at restoring cultural monuments specifically in Odessa.
The list of objects set for renovation includes:
- Odessa Philharmonic (formerly the New Exchange);
- Odessa National Art Museum (Potocki Palace);
- Museum of Western and Eastern Art (Abazi Palace);
- Odessa Literary Museum.
The ministry emphasizes that this is not only about preserving architectural heritage but also about boosting tourism and creating accessible public spaces of European quality.
The signing of the agreement is planned for the international Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025, which will take place in June in Rome.
According to Alena Shkrum, the preparation of this document took over four months and included numerous agreements at the intergovernmental level.
Additionally, as part of cooperation with Italy, the following initiatives are planned:
- a loan for the construction of a new children's hospital wing in Odessa,
- a grant for the reconstruction of irrigation systems in the region.
These initiatives are part of a joint memorandum between Ukraine and Italy aimed at the recovery of the Odessa region.
